Taxi driver banned after passenger fell out of cab in ‘terrifying’ ordeal in DoncasterA taxi driver who sped off from a taxi rank with his cab door still open - causing a passenger to fall out - has been banned from driving for two years.
Asif Ahmed, aged 24, picked up a group of six people from outside Doncaster railway station in July last year.
When the group started singing as Ahmed started the cab, he demanded they stop. When the passengers started to sing for a second time, Ahmed lost his temper, reversed at speed back into the taxi rank and ordered them to leave his cab, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
But as the group attempted to get out, Ahmed pulled away at speed with the door open, causing one of the passengers to fall out.
The court heard that while the others screamed at the taxi driver to stop he drove erratically around the station car park until he collided a stationary car - ripping off his cab door.
He then drove into the nearby bus station, where the cab’s wheelchair ramp, which had come loose and was hanging out of the vehicle, hit a metal pole.
Ahmed, of Elmfield Road, Hyde Park, Doncaster, then drove his passengers to a police station.
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “The court heard how the four passengers repeatedly screamed at Ahmed to stop the car as they were thrown around in the back of the vehicle, desperately attempting not to fall out of the side of the car.
“On leaving the bus station, Ahmed continued to drive his passengers in a dangerous manner to a police station, calling his father on the way to tell him he feared he would be attacked by his passengers.
“In police interview, Ahmed claimed he had done nothing wrong and only drove in such a reckless manner because he was in fear of his life as he believed one of the group would beat him up.”
But a dashboard camera recorded audio and visual evidence of the terrifying incident and was presented in court, where Ahmed pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.
He was banned from driving for two years, given a 12 month community order and ordered to pay £2,800 in prosecution costs.
He must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
DC Ian Grice, of British Transport Police, said: “Ahmed’s actions that evening were incredibly dangerous as reflected in the driving ban and substantial fine he has been ordered to pay.
“The incident could have been far worse but all six of his passengers were left bruised, battered, badly shaken and shocked by what happened and were lucky not to have been seriously injured.”
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